Aryna Sabalenka is backing herself to come out on top in her ‘Battle of the Sexes’ exhibition match against Nick Kyrgios by embracing the unknown in Dubai.
The women’s world No. 1 meets Australian maverick Kyrgios on Sunday, replicating one of the most famous tennis matches in history when Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs at the Houston Astrodome in 1973.
The three-set match will use modified rules that will allow each player to serve only one serve, while reducing Sabalenka’s side of the court by nine percent and a decisive 10-point tie-break if necessary.
The Coca-Cola Arena rivals will put their off-field friendship on hold for the day, with Sabalenka confident of her chances while acknowledging she is entering uncharted territory.
When asked who will win, the 27-year-old four-time Grand Slam winner immediately replied: “Me.
“This event is really unpredictable. I don’t know what to expect and that’s what I like because this is the feeling you chase when you’re exercising.
“I like to challenge myself and this is a huge challenge, especially playing against Nick, a man who is unpredictable and crazy.
“It’s great training for me and a great message for the girls there. I hope they will see how tough and strong I am by playing against a man.”
Kyrgios has been limited to just five singles matches this year due to injuries, the most recent of which was in March, and the 30-year-old is currently ranked 673rd in the world.
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“I’ve faced some pretty scary opponents in my time. I’m well equipped and I know Aryna has some serious weapons,” Kyrgios said.
But I came prepared and ready for this. If you know me, you know how unpredictable I am, but I’m as prepared as can be. I have a feeling I’m going to win.
“I haven’t won a Grand Slam, but I have lost in a Grand Slam final. This is something completely different, I don’t know how my body or my mind will react.
“It’s a very different energy. I’m definitely going to bring something different. My strength has always been my unpredictability, even on the men’s tour.
“Guys like Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal struggle because they don’t understand how to play with me at certain moments, because even I don’t know what I’m going to do at certain moments.
‘I’m going to bring something she hasn’t seen before. I play the style of tennis that I know is effective.’
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